Governor Nixon faces deadline on late-term abortion bill decision

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon is facing a deadline to decide whether to sign or veto new restrictions on late-term abortions or let them take effect without his signature.

The abortion legislation is one of several bills that Nixon has not yet acted upon. Under the Missouri Constitution, Nixon must sign or veto bills by the end of Thursday or they will take effect as law without his signature.

Missouri already bans abortions of viable fetuses except to preserve the life or health of the woman.

A bill passed this year by the Legislature would remove that general health exception. Instead, it would allow such abortions only to save the woman's life or when pregnancy poses a serious risk of substantial physical impairment to a major bodily function.